The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday said that "Ushr" (zakat for crops) can be an effective tool for poverty alleviation in the country.

The roundtable on "Ushr Perspective in Bangladesh" was held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city. The Ushr Foundation Bangladesh (UFB) organised it. Dr Khondaker ANM Abdullah Jahangir of Islami University, Kushtia, presented the keynote paper while Prof Mojahidul Islam of Dhaka University moderated the roundtable. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Monjur Elahi, Md Ersad Ullah, Sadeq Safiullah, Maulana Khalilur Rahman, Secretary General of mosque mission, Prof Ayubur Rahman Bhuayan, Dr Mohammed Musa, Prof Borhan Uddin, Dr AJM Nomani, Golam Mohammed, Ushr foundation Chairman Dr Mostaq Ahmed and Secretary General Hasnat Abdul Kader, among others, addressed the roundtable.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad said if the Government institutionalises "Ushr" it can reduce the poverty level in the country significantly.

He pleaded for involving the country's economists and Islamic scholars in promoting the concept of "Ushr" at the state level.

He pointed out that UFB has recently taken up a 2-year project at Chandinar Char in Manikganj for lifting 300 ultra poor families from the vicious cycle of poverty.

Maulana Khalilur Rahman said that the success of the government in motivating the well-to do farm owners to the concept of "Ushr" will usher in a new era of socio-economic development of the country.

Md Ersad Ullah called upon the media to motivate people by publishing and telecasting news in this regard.

Abdullah Jahangir in his keynote paper said that the "Ushr" can stabilise the prices of essential commodities as the farmers will distribute "Ushr" after harvesting crops.